UNM CDD Awarded $3.9 for LEND Program

September 13, 2011

The University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability (UNM CDD) recently received a five-year award totaling $3.9 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau for the New Mexico Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program.

The LEND program prepares traineesfrom a wide variety of professional disciplines to assume leadership roles,ensure high levels of interdisciplinary clinical competence, and enhances theability of clinicians to diagnose, treat, and manage complex neurodevelopmentaldisabilities in youth and adolescents.

The New Mexico LEND program is agraduate level, year-long course focused on the development of leadership,clinical and team skills.

The program currently has graduatestudents from 12 different disciplines, including occupational and physicaltherapy, pediatrics, nutrition, social work, nursing, speech therapy, psychology, health administration, and special education. Parents of childrenwith disabilities are also enrolled in the program.

“Not one discipline has all theanswers when caring for a child with disabilities,” said Dr. Cate McClain,director at the UNM CDD. “Families need an entire team to provide the absolute best care for their child. The LEND program focuses on this interdisciplinaryapproach and gives those in the program the tools they need to be leaders andadvocates for children with disabilities and their families.”